Article May 31, 1913 Issue

FALLACY OF PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS

ALMUS PRATT EVANS, M.D.

A discussion of the subject of physical diagnosis from a Christian Science standpoint would seem to be entirely unnecessary, as metaphysics is so at variance with physics; but the belief of materiality is so fixed in the human mind that it is eradicated with difficulty. This is due to the fact that physical man has long been supposed to be the true man. Basing their deductions on the assumption that man is physical, that mind is contained in the human body, mortals have striven in a material way to establish a more harmonious condition. While this has been attained in a degree, it is far from being satisfactory; and not until Mrs. Eddy, through her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" more clearly elucidated the teaching of the Bible, has humanity found a reasonable solution to this problem.

For ages materiality has dominated the world. It is therefore not "passing strange" that material medicine had its birth in material sense and has been conducted along physical lines for centuries. Material medica regards man as only a physical being, and even though mental conditions may be recognized, material treatment alone is applied. The Scripture, as well as natural science, teaches that matter, or the flesh, is subject to destruction and annihilation. The molecule and the atom of yesterday have given way to the ion of today. It is therefore very evident that a system which is based on materiality is without foundation, and consequently is fallacious.

Medicine is usually spoken of as being a science, but it falls far short of being scientific, according to the definition of science given by the Standard dictionary, "knowledge gained and verified by exact observation and correct thinking;" "possession of exact knowledge." Science is based upon facts, and facts never change. There is no way in which one can gain exact knowledge by the study of the testimony of the physical senses.

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